Baron Ketteler to Mr. Gresham.
Washington, August 8, 1893.
Sir: In accordance with telegraphic instructions received from the secretary of state for foreign affairs, I have the honor to inform you that the foreign office at Berlin is in receipt of telegraphic advice from [Page 680] the imperial consul at Apia to the effect that Mataafa and his followers have been utterly defeated by King Malietoa, the loss on Mataafa’s side amourting to 15 killed and 18 wounded.
By a joint action of the two cruisers of the imperial navy, together with a British man-of-war and some 30 native chieftains, Mataafa and his followers were made prisoners of war without any bloodshed.
In communicating these facts to the U. S. Government the secretary of state for foreign affairs has directed me to add that it was deemed impossible to delay the joint action of the war ships in Samoan waters any longer after the native forces had engaged in deadly warfare, and that the respective naval commanders have acted in accordance with the spirit of the agreement entered into by the three powers, by their timely interference and by restoring peace and good order within the Samoan Islands.
I avail, etc.,